Wasaga Beach Public Library (WBPL) is excited to announce that it has been awarded $24,000 through the Ontario Seniors Community Grant Program, to launch Bridging Generations: Preserving Memories, Building Connections—a new initiative that will help older adults and veterans explore technology, share their stories, and strengthen intergenerational connections.

This innovative program is a cornerstone of the Town’s broader Memories Project, a new community storytelling and digital heritage initiative launching later this year in collaboration with WBPL. The Memories Project will feature the Town’s first digital archive, a series of fireside chats, and a variety of community programs that invite residents, past and present, to share their stories, photographs, and memories of life in Wasaga Beach.

Through Bridging Generations, participants aged 55+ will take part in creative, hands-on workshops designed to preserve personal and community memories using newly acquired digitization equipment. Seniors will learn how to digitize family photos, slides, audio, and video recordings while sharing stories through themed memory circles held at the library, the Royal Canadian Legion, and local retirement residences.

The Bridging Generations program will culminate in a 2026 wrap-up celebration and interactive gallery, featuring photographs, audio recordings, and creative displays that bring Wasaga Beach’s collective story to life.

“This program honours the lives and experiences of Wasaga Beach’s older adults while giving them practical tools to preserve their memories,” said Lorraine Gruzuk, Chair of the Wasaga Beach Public Library Board. “By combining hands-on digitization with community storytelling – we’re helping seniors stay connected, build confidence with technology, and share their stories. By partnering with the Town to deliver this program as part of the larger Memories Project, we’re helping to build a lasting community legacy — one that preserves the shared memories and personal stories of our people and our town for generations to come.”

“The Seniors Community Grant Program is helping protect the well-being of seniors by providing opportunities to stay active, connected and engaged.  We are honoured to support the Wasaga Beach Public Library’s unique initiative, which will allow older adults to learn new skills, socialize and promote wellness,” said Raymond Cho, Minister for Seniors and Accessibility.

This year, the Government of Ontario is investing nearly $7 million in the Seniors Community Grant Program, supporting more than 330 community projects across the province. Administered by the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility, the program provides grants of $1,000 to $25,000 to help seniors stay active, healthy, and socially connected. Since 2018, Ontario has invested over $34 million in more than 1,800 grassroots projects, ensuring older adults can live independently and remain engaged in their communities.

Registration Information

To participate in Bridging Generations: Preserving Memories, Building Connections, individuals must be WBPL members aged 55+. Registration for the digitization workshops is available through the library’s program calendar here. Workshops are free of charge, ensuring accessibility for all interested seniors.